Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Over 3,000 cyclists are expected to take part in the opening leg of the Larga Pilipinas cycling series, which fires off this weekend in Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija, and continues in Tarlac and Pangasinan.

The Nov. 29 to Nov. 30 races include both road bike and mountain bike events, featuring seven major categories: Pro Elite, MTB men’s Open, Road bike boys 18U and 23U, Road bike men’s 23U, MTB amateur boys 18U and the demanding fixed gear competition-where riders race without brakes.

One-on-one race

Race director Gary Role said organizers are still receiving last-minute entries following the event’s postponement last August due to typhoon damage that rendered many of the original routes impassable.

So far, 105 riders have signed up for the Pro Elite race, while the MTB men’s Open drew the largest turnout with 845 participants.

One highlight of the two-stage event is a head-to-head ‘Titan Ultra Challenge’ between rising star Junjun Cabadido and continental campaigner Marc Ryan Lago. Larga Pilipinas operations chief Snow Badua said this one-on-one duel is part of the group’s push to innovate and elevate local cycling events.

Legendary archery coach Ryu Su-jeng stood at the lobby of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) building, waiting for her turn to take the stage during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

A huge image of the country’s top sports heroes caught her attention.

‘No archery,’ she said.

That’s what Ryu hopes to change.

The Korean mentor, who has handled her country’s top archers and coached them to Olympic gold medals, is being tapped to handle the country’s national program. It is a job she is excited to take on, turning down more lucrative offers from Mexico and China for a chance to take Philippine archery back to world-class levels.

‘I was impressed by the players’ patience; they have already gone through a lot of changes and developments,’ Ryu said during the Forum on Tuesday, speaking through interpreter Yu Hyoji, who flew with her from Korea.

While Ryu is more known for leading Korean star An San to three golds in the Tokyo Olympics, her work with Jang Hye-jin would be more relatable to Filipino archers. Ryu took Jang from the shadows of anonymity in a country stacked with top-notch archers and mentored her to two gold medals in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

And she hopes to deliver another zero-to-hero athlete for the country starting with the Southeast Asian Games.

‘She came in with a gem of a plan and a strategy,’ new World Archery Philippines president Bing Reaport said. ‘She wants to build a framework. It’s not just about the technical things.’

Same system

Reaport said Ryu’s impact on the archers was immediate.

‘She just made a few adjustments, and already, you could feel the improvement among the archers. The morale is really high within the team now,’ Reaport said.

Ryu is hoping to apply the same system she used to run successfully in Korea. Her technique is personalized, based on the athlete’s height and build.

Known for the strong bond she shares with her players, Ryu is hoping to overcome the language barrier and forge the same kind of relationship with Filipino archers.

‘I try to do everything with them,’ she said. ‘I ask them their favorite food, their hobbies.’

Ryu, who loves to cook, bonds with the players by letting them try her dishes. They talk about popular skin-care methods which are huge in Korea. She teaches them a little Korean, and they teach her English.

All that’s left is to finalize a two-year contract that is still up in the air.

‘[PSC] Chairman Peto [Gregorio] and I are preparing the contract,’ Reaport said.

Formalizing the deal is of vital importance as several countries continue hounding Ryu about the possibility of her changing her mind. For now, even with no deals signed yet, she continues to build relationships with Filipino archers and slowly makes changes in their approach to training.

The national archery squad is looking to get to the podium in the SEA Games in Bangkok next month, but the goal is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and train a solid youth team that will qualify for the 2032 Brisbane Games. INQ

The Office of the President’s proposed P27.3 billion budget for next year secured a swift passage in the Senate on Wednesday.

Less than five minutes after the session began, the chamber approved the Office of the President’s funding for next year as a matter of courtesy.

It was Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who moved for the immediate approval of the funding and no senator objected to his motion.

Newly appointed Executive Secretary Ralph Recto was at the session hall when the budget was presented.

The Senate kicked off its marathon plenary deliberations on the 2026 General Appropriations Bill containing the proposed P6.783 trillion budget for next year on November 13.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate’s panel on finance, confirmed that they are eyeing to pass a budget that is lower than the Palace-approved National Expenditure Program for the next fiscal year. /cb

A man climbed onto a billboard frame at the Northbound footbridge of the Taft Avenue station of the Metro Rail Transit Line (MRT) Line 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

In a Facebook advisory, the DOTr said the man, who has yet to be identified, climbed onto the billboard at around 11:20 a.m.

‘The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel at the station immediately responded. Pasay City BFP Personnel also responded and conducted negotiations,’ the DOTr said.

The man was brought down to the roof deck at around 12:27 p.m.

The agency has yet to provide details on why the man climbed onto the billboard frame as of this writing. /apl

The Romblon provincial government confirmed on Wednesday that a 46-year-old hiker who climbed Mt. Guiting-Guiting on Monday died of hypothermia.

‘We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. May you be granted strength and peace during this time of grief,’ it said in a statement written in Filipino.

According to the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) of the Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park (MGGNP), the guides noticed that the hiker was experiencing extreme fatigue, shivering, and disorientation while on the trail – all signs of hypothermia.

Coordination was immediately made between the hiking guides, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Bureau of Fire Protection-Magdiwang for a quick response, the statement said.

When responders arrived, the hiker was given first aid and brought down from the mountain before being rushed to the nearest medical facility. Despite the prompt response, the hiker passed away. ‘The official cause of death was hypothermia,’ the statement added.

Personnel from the Sibuyan District Hospital and the Governor’s Help Desk assisted at the hospital.

The statement further noted: ‘Based on his registration form, he did not report any pre-existing medical conditions and submitted a medical certificate stating that he was physically fit to climb.’

The Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) and the event organizer are coordinating with the family of the deceased. As of this writing, his remains are at Daguno Funeral Service, the statement said.

PAMO is also preparing a comprehensive incident report and reviewing safety protocols with the Guide and Porter Association to prevent similar incidents.

The province once again reminded the public that Mt. Guiting-Guiting is currently in its off-season due to frequent rains and the high risks along the trail. ‘We urge residents and visitors to follow safety advisories, exercise caution, and avoid climbing during unsafe periods,’ it said.

The provincial government added that it is ready to cooperate with all concerned agencies to ensure the safety of everyone climbing the province’s mountains./coa

The ongoing corruption scandal threatens to further erode the Philippines’ appeal to job-generating foreign investment at a moment when global headwinds are already darkening investor sentiment, a weakness that could persist until next year.

Even so, BMI, a unit of the Fitch Group, noted that a weaker peso could provide a modest buffer by making exports more competitive amid unsettled trade conditions, helping to offset some of the pressure that softening investment flows are placing on the country’s external accounts.

BMI, in a note to clients, said the deepening probe into anomalous flood control projects compounded investor concerns about global trade uncertainty, triggering a slump in foreign direct investments (FDI).

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that in August, FDI inflows still outpaced outflows by $494 million.

However, the net inflow was 40.5 percent lower than a year earlier-the steepest decline in six months.

Unlike so-called hot money, which can flee at the first sign of trouble, FDI typically represents longer-term commitments that generate jobs and support industrial growth.

‘The corruption scandal will dampen foreign direct investment inflows into 2026, adding to pressures from macroeconomic uncertainty and global trade tensions,’ BMI said.

Business confidence

The graft scandal-which has gutted business confidence, stalled public works and forced out members of Mr. Marcos’ Cabinet-pulled economic growth down to 4 percent in the third quarter, a four-year low.

The governance crisis also sent shock waves through financial markets, dragging the peso to new record lows and placing Philippine equities among the world’s weakest performers this year.

In an interview, Michael Enriquez, president of Sun Life Investment Management and Trust Corp. (SLIMTC), said investments could stay ‘flat’ over the next three quarters, with gross domestic product (GDP) likely stuck at around 4 to 5 percent this year and in 2026 (see related story).

‘That really has taken a backseat not only on hot money investing in the Philippines but also the real investments pouring into the country,’ Enriquez said.

‘I think there are a lot of questions [about] the stability of the economy and of the government,’ he added.

Rate cut

Looking ahead, BMI said the central bank may respond to the disappointing third-quarter growth by delivering another quarter-point rate cut in December. That move could place additional pressure on the currency, the firm said, projecting the peso to weaken to about 59 per dollar by the end of 2025 and 59.50 by late 2026.

But BMI noted that the peso’s depreciation could still work to the country’s advantage by bolstering exports, helping to ease some of the strain on the external accounts, which have been pressured by unpredictable US trade policies and domestic headwinds.

The Fitch unit expected a modest narrowing of the current account deficit-from 4 percent of GDP in 2024 to 3.4 percent in 2025 and 3.2 percent in 2026.

‘On one hand, continued tariff uncertainty under an unpredictable US trade policy could widen the deficit,’ BMI said. ‘On the other hand, ongoing negotiations to lower the 19% ‘reciprocal’ tariff could narrow the current account deficit, bringing it closer to BSP’s target of 2.9 percent in 2026 if successful.’

Consumer spending

For SLIMTC’s Enriquez, the central bank’s rate cuts would ‘pump-prime’ consumer spending and revive capital formation. He also banked on participation of the private sector to offset the slowdown in government infrastructure spending.

‘If you think about it, spending on roads or cramping down on construction is not just the construction sector. All the other businesses will be affected,’ he said.

‘So, if we can look for other ways to augment that, in terms of the private sector, it will really help our economy,’ he added.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing to launch an online platform designed to improve oversight of upcoming farm-to-market road (FMR) projects and curb corruption in their implementation.

Through the FMR Watch website, individuals and groups can upload photos, report progress, and flag issues directly from the construction sites.

‘We will do a number of things, like the FMR Watch website, wherein our netizens or ordinary citizens or local government officials could help monitor projects and upload photos into that website so we at the DA could track their progress, or lack thereof,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Tuesday.

He urged farmers, local governments, and ordinary citizens to help monitor FMR projects as inefficiencies and corruption in rural infrastructure continue to affect food production and farmers’ income.

‘We need everyone’s help to monitor all of these FMR projects in order to do them properly at the fastest possible time,’ Tiu Laurel said.

According to the agriculture chief, the DA will also develop a portal that will allow people to check the exact location of agricultural road projects as well as visit and inspect these sites.

‘These initiatives, we believe, will greatly help in keeping everyone honest and ensure precious public funds do not end up in some unscrupulous individual’s pockets,’ he said.

To date, eight out of the almost 3,000 validated FMR projects have been flagged as missing and partly missing in Davao Occidental and Zamboanga City.

The DA is conducting an audit of some 5,000 kilometers of FMRs completed in recent years to verify whether these met technical specifications and were finished as planned.

Starting 2026, the DA will also take over the construction of FMRs from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Tiu Laurel earlier said the DA expects to save at least 20 percent in construction costs once it handles the FMR program.

According to Tiu Laurel, the current cost of building a kilometer of concrete, two-lane FMR averages P15 million, but the DA’s internal management and use of new technologies can bring this down to P12 million or lower with the use of different methods, such as soil stabilizers, which provide long-term permanent strength, in certain areas.

The Marcos administration initially proposed P16 billion for FMR projects in 2026, or enough to build about 1,000 kilometers of rural roads.

The House of Representatives has since doubled this to P32 billion following the President’s directive to realign flood control funds to priority agricultural infrastructure.

With double the budget and cost-cutting measures in place, the DA said it hopes to accelerate market connectivity for rural producers, boosting farm incomes while helping stabilize food prices for consumers.

Tiu Laurel said the DA will work closely with local government units, civil society groups, and the Philippine Army’s Corps of Engineers to ensure transparency and speed in their construction.

‘We want every peso to go to real roads that benefit real farmers-not into the pockets of corrupt officials,’ he said.

The DA’s National Farm-to-Market Road Network Plan 2023-2028 has identified about 131,000 km of potential FMRs nationwide, of which around 70,000 km have been completed.

At the current pace, however, the DA said full completion could take 60 years.

‘We can cut that time in half with stronger coordination and smarter spending,’ Tiu Laurel said.

Priority areas

The DA is also urging congressional support for the proposed FMR Development and Equity Act, which aims to create a more transparent and equitable framework for FMR investments nationwide.

Tiu Laurel underscored that FMRs are not just infrastructures but essential lifelines that connect farmers, fisherfolk, and livestock producers to markets and economic opportunities.

‘Every kilometer of FMR we build is a pathway out of poverty for rural communities. But with a staggering 36,000-km backlog, we need a comprehensive, fair, and sustainable approach. This bill delivers that,’ he said.

Under the proposed law, at least 30 percent of FMR funds will be earmarked for rural areas with a high incidence of poverty.

The rest will be in key regional growth corridors identified by the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, and the Regional Development Councils.

These include major commodity production zones under the DA’s agricultural modernization plan, fisheries development areas designated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, livestock clusters under the National Livestock Program, and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas such as upland barangays and island municipalities.

‘This is about ensuring no farmer or fisherfolk is left behind just because of where they live,’ Tiu Laurel stressed.

He said well-planned and properly implemented FMRs will not only lower food prices, reduce postharvest losses, and raise farmer and fisherfolk incomes, but will also address peace and order issues and improve overall connectivity for remote and underserved communities.

EuroXtreme Circus returns to Metro Manila this December with a Christmas Special designed to thrill every age group. Opening on December 5 at Alabang West Parade and running until January 4, the production showcases a world class cast of international performers and a lineup of stunts rarely seen in the Philippines.

Families can expect an experience filled with high energy entertainment. The show features hilarious clowns and a variety of thrilling and enjoyable acts that appeal to all ages. The Wheel of Suspense tests the limits of balance and fearlessness, while the Globe of Terror brings riders speeding inside a steel sphere with precision and control. The Flying Trapeze brings the classic magic of circus artistry, and the FMX Stunts deliver pure adrenaline with airborne motorcycle tricks that leave audiences in awe. It is positioned as a once in a lifetime extreme experience in the country, especially since international touring circuses are not commonly found in the Philippines.

EuroXtreme Circus was built from the vision of Kenneth Lee, Executive Producer and Touring Director of Art Box Entertainment, together with his wife Kimberly Lee, the company’s President. Their mission is to bring world class shows to Filipino communities at an affordable price and to reach cities that often miss out on live entertainment. The inspiration traces back to Kenneth’s late father, Paul L. B. Lee, who brought the Royal London Circus to tour the Philippines more than thirty years ago. That legacy continues through EuroXtreme, which has already made waves across Mindanao and the Visayas and is now capturing the attention of audiences in Luzon.

For many families, EuroXtreme offers more than a night of spectacle. It blends nostalgia, thrill and holiday excitement in a shared experience. With its Christmas Special at Alabang West Parade, the production invites Filipinos to celebrate the season through a show that combines classic circus wonder and modern extreme stunts.

EuroXtreme Circus opens on December 5 and runs until January 4 at Alabang West Parade.Buy your tickets now at artboxentertainment.com.

An administrative complaint was filed on Tuesday before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) against 14 members of a Philippine National Police antinarcotics team based in Region 4-A (Calabarzon) who were earlier relieved of their posts after they were accused of rape and robbery.

The complaint was filed by the alleged rape victim, identified only as ‘Nena,’ her cousin ‘Stephen,’ and his partner ‘Dona.’

Aside from the administrative charge, the 14 law enforcers also face a complaint for robbery in band before the local prosecutor’s office, Bacoor City police chief Lt. Col. Alexie Desamito said in a press briefing.

The criminal complaint was filed on Monday, on top of a rape charge that was lodged by Nena against the leader of the police team.

Napolcom Executive Officer Atty. Rafael Calinisan told reporters the team was headed by a police lieutenant.

The PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP DEG) previously identified the operatives as members of the DEG under their Special Operations Unit Calabarzon (SOU 4A). However, it did not name them. A police report also did not identify the 14 police officers, although it listed their ranks as lieutenant, master sergeant, five corporals and seven patrolmen.

According to Calinisan, if the Napolcom finds probable cause against the police officers in its preliminary probe, its Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service will file administrative cases against them before the Legal Affairs Service for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

No warrant

Stephen told reporters that the police team raided their house in Bacoor City on Saturday morning. He said the police officers, who were in civilian clothes and wearing face covers to hide their identities, did not introduce themselves or present a search warrant.

At the time, only he, Dona, Nena and their grandparents were at home. Stephen said the operatives were looking for Nena’s boyfriend, whom the PNP DEG said was a ‘high-value drug target.’

Nena, however, denied that her boyfriend was involved in the drug trade. She said he was arrested in 2019 for betting on a ‘cara y cruz’ game, only to be slapped later on with a drug charge.

When the police officers failed to find Nena’s boyfriend, Stephen said they forced open a room belonging to his uncle before telling him to go downstairs.

Dona claimed the police operatives told them to surrender their cell phones.

Nena said she was in her room when some of the police officers barged inside and started searching for ‘anything illegal.’

Cell phones, cash taken

‘They found nothing, so they told me that because they didn’t get anything illegal, they’ll just get me instead . They told me the team leader would take care of me,’ she added.

At this point, Nena said the team leader told his operatives to leave the room and when they did, he raped her.

The police officers later left the house, but Stephen said they took his cell phone as well as Dona’s, on top of around P8,000 in cash from his uncle’s room.

Nena added that police officers also took her boyfriend’s shoes, money box, two gold rings, two motorcycle helmets and their motorcycle.

Eight of the 14 police officers, including the team leader, were arrested on Sunday at the PNP DEG SOU 4A’s office in Calamba City, according to Desamito. Six others remain at large.

Desamito said that he asked those already in custody some basic questions.

‘[I asked them] ‘Did you conduct a police operation in Bacoor this morning?’ They admitted to it. ‘What happened? What was the result?’ They said they didn’t catch anyone. ‘Did you make a report?’ None. ‘Will you file cases against anyone?’ They said no,’ he told reporters.

PNP DEG Director Brig. Gen. Elmer Ragay earlier said he relieved the 14 police officers, in addition to their commander although he was not among those who took part in the operation. The police colonel, who was also not identified, was relieved on the principle of command responsibility.

One more individual accused of graft and malversation in connection with irregularities in the Oriental Mindoro flood control project has been arrested, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) confirmed.

A police report from the CIDG identified the accused in custody as Department of Public Works Mimaropa (DPWH 4B) Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Engr. Montrexis Tamayo.

Mimaropa, or Region IV-B, stands for Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.

The CIDG National Capital Region (NCR) and the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (PNP AVSEG) arrested Tamayo at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 in Pasay City Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 25, the police report noted.

‘At approximately 3:35 p.m., the said joint operating teams monitored Emirates Airlines Flight UAE332 at Naia Terminal 3. The subject person, Tamayo, was positively confirmed on board, scheduled to arrive at Gate 114,’ the police report said.

‘Upon arrival of Flight UAE332, arresting personnel approached the subject for verification using an identification card as Montrexis Tordecilla Tamayo. The arresting team informed him of the nature of the warrants, and the arrest was effected without incident,’ it added.

Tamayo was later transported to the CIDG national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Asked to confirm whether Tamayo was already brought before the Sandiganbayan, in a message to reporters, CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said, ‘Yes, for the return of the warrant of arrest and commitment to the designated jail facility.’

Tamayo is among the 16 accused of graft and malversation before the Sandiganbayan for an allegedly anomalous P289.5-million Oriental Mindoro road dike project.

Last Monday, authorities announced eight of the 16 accused were already in government custody.

In an interview on ANC’s ‘Headstart’ on Wednesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tamayo arrived in the Philippines from Israel.

However, in a statement later on Wednesday, the PNP AVSEG said Tamayo came from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Remulla previously said Tamayo was last known to be in Jordan. /apl /abc /mr